Spy Shots: 2010 Lexus RX

It's time for Lexus to introduce the new version of its popular RX crossover. Now the first clear spy shots of the 2010 Lexus RX have surfaced. As we see on the pictures, the new Lexus RX will carry some similar design cues to recently showed LF-Xh Concept.

The new RX won't be so different from the current version. The updated version takes on more of Lexus' L-finesse styling concepts, and from these shots, the most striking revision seems to be in the rear pillar and taillamps.

The new RX carried nearly identical dimensions to the current vehicle. That similar stance disguised a five-inch stretch in wheelbase, so a much more second-row legroom is expected. A V6 will be standard; likely options will include a seven-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, and the logical hybrid version.

Gallery: 2010 Lexus RX

Spy Shots: Production Suzuki A-Star Spotted In India

The production version of Suzuki's A-Star hatchback spotted in India. Suzuki was pretty fast in preparing the productin ready version. The A-Star Concept showed at the last New Delhi Motor Show just six months ago.

This little car shows how important the emerging countries for the automakers are. - More pictures after the jump...

Spy Shots: Seat Ibiza Cupra Spotted On The Ring

The all new fourth generation SEAT Ibiza was revealed last month at the Madrid Motor Show with the three-door Ibiza sport-coupe version following a week later.

SEAT has already confirmed the sporty FR and Cupra models are on the way and BridgeToGantry.com, have taken some images of the sport coupe wearing a twin-tip exhaust pipe and a cute roof wing. - Continued after the jump...



It is speculated that the petrol engined Cupra will receive VW's 170hp 1.6-liter TSI engine producing 180 to 200hp. The Sport Coupe will make its public debut next month in London while the FR and Cupra models are expected to debut either at Paris this October or Geneva in 2009.

Spy Shots: Saab 9-4X Interior Photo

Saab's new 9-4X SUV spotted entering the Nurburgring circuit in Germany. The 9-4X shares the same platform with Saturn Vue and Opel Antara but will be revised to fit the premium segment.

Sources have claimed this prototype has a 284 horsepower V6 engine under the hood mated to an automatic gear box. The dimensions of the model stand at a length 495cm and 192cm wide bringing an estimated weight to around 2180kg.

The car carries some similar design cues to the 9-4X BioPower Concept with the aggressive half oval grille. But the overall profile of the vehicle had to be heavily toned down for production.

The car is expected to make its world debut at next year's Detroit Motor Show before production commences at the GM factory in Mexico. - More pictures after the jump...

Spy Shots: Honda NSX Supercar Prototype

While both Nissan and Toyota are either have a supercar or working hard for a new one only an idiot would think Honda will let its competitors steal all the thunder in this segment. The spies at KGP Photography have captured the next Acura NSX in its prototype form for the first time. The car photographed under S2000 disguise recently.

Unlike the previous mid-engined NSX this prototype is running a front-mid engine, with its powerplant placed well behind the front wheels to ensure excellent weight distribution. This should also allow the new NSX to offer 2+2 cabin accommodation, broadening its appeal against the Nissan GT-R and Lexus LF-A - particularly in the USA. -Continued after the jump...

Gallery: Honda NSX Spy Shots






The engine is still a mystery. There’s talk of a high-revving naturally aspirated V10. An output of 450 hp seems likely. Four-wheel-drive, with rearward bias, is also rumoured, the handling expected to be controlled by a version of Honda’s electronic Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.

The Honda NSX is not expected until 2009 and on top of its Japanese rivals it must also compete with the likes of the Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Spy Shots: Citroen C3 MPV

Citroen is preparing to reveal its new C3 mini MPV. The new car has already spotted testing. The new Nissan Note rival uses the C3 base and aims to compete with Honda Jazz, Renault Modus and upcoming Opel Meriva.

The C3 MPV carries some similar design cues to the C-SportLounge concept. The engine range will include some familiar PSA engines: 1.6 L and 1.4 L gasoline and 1.6 L diesel engines will be mated with a manuel or the SensoDrive automatic transmissions. Citroen plans to use Start-Stop system too.

The C3 MPV is expected to make its debut in Paris Motor Show in October and be on sale early 2009.

Toyota/ Subaru RWD Coupe Spied For First Time

The new Toyota/Subaru RWD Coupe was announced back in April and now for the first time, we can show you the first picture of a prototype that was caught testing outside a test center in the UK( thanks to Winding Road).

Toyota and Subaru are developing a brand new platform for the new model. So with this kind of expense coupled with a sub $20,000 price tag, we can say that Japanese plan to sell a very high volume of this car. We already know Subaru's horizontally-opposed boxer engine will be under the hood but further details are still unknown. It is rumored that the engine will be making around 220 HP and is set to be mated to a six-speed gearbox.

The prototype you see above wears a modified Subaru Legacy Body but a far more unique design with similarities to Toyota's FT-HS concept is expected.

Go to Winding Road for more pictures...

Spy Shots: 2011 Acura RL

It looks like Acura is getting serious about entering the large-car luxury game with a new version of its flagship sedan, the RL. The latest spy shots of the 2011 RL appear to corroborate the rumors suggesting that Honda will use a rear-wheel-drive layout in a bid to compete with its peer class, which includes the BMW 5 series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Tough much is hidden by the stretched-out TSX bodywork. But a closer look at the profile shows a longer hood with the front wheels moved farther forward, which not only improves the vehicle's looks with less front overhang but also indicates that the engine may be longitudinally mounted.

The rumored V8 engine may be underhood of the next RL. Previous reports indicate its output at 420 horsepower, which should be matched with cylinder deactivation in an effort to keep fuel economy respectable. With these high gas prices, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the next RL with a V6 engine as standard, leaving the eight-cylinder as an option.

Spy Shots: Latest Toyota Avensis Spy Photos

Almost two months after the first spy shots, the new Toyota Avensis caught by the photographers during winter testing. The third-generation Avensis is expected to be launched at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Since its launch in 2003, the second-generation Avensis has won the European Car of the Year award in 2004 and 156,000 units sold in 2005 alone. The current Avensis received its mid-product life cycle facelift at the Madrid Motor Show in 2006.

But because of the heating up competition that Avensis is facing in the up-market medium-sized car market from e.g. the Mazda 6, Toyota is in the process of updating the Avensis range, with reportedly a hybrid, all-wheel drive and diesel hybrid models being available by 2010.

Gallery: Toyota Avensis Spy Shots

Spy Shots: Porsche Panamera With Open Doors And Boot

We've already seen aplenty of the Porsche Panamera. So its silhouette is a familiar sight now in picture. These new shots give us our first glimpse into Porsche’s new saloon and the interior door panels seem almost production ready. Porsche always waits until everything has been thoroughly tested, so don’t expect the super saloon to debut before 2009.

One thing we're sure is is that it will come with a relatively practical hatchback rear compartment where most of its rivals offer the more traditional boot. The rear doors look a great size. Naturally aspirated and twin turbocharged versions of the Cayenne’s 4.8L V8 producing 400hp and 500+hp are expected to be offered. A 300hp V6 version is rumored along a hybrid model.

Gallery: Porsche Panamera Spy Shots

Spy Shots: Lexus IS Convertible

Well it's hard to tell from the picture, but what you see in the picture, according to the sources, is a test mule of the Lexus IS convertible. Information accompanying the spy shot suggests that the car is destined for production by the end of 2009 and will feature the full range of engines available in the Lexus IS sedan, from the 177-hp European diesel 220d to the 423-hp IS-F.

If the information is correct, the IS cabrio would be the first body style variant of the Lexus sports sedan since the previous generation SportCross wagon model, and would slot in the Lexus line-up under the SC 430 convertible.As one forum member pointed out, by 2009 the IS sedan would be entering its fifth year of production and itself be due for replacement soon thereafter.

Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz GLK Production Version

We've already seen Mercedes' GLK Freeside and Townside concepts, so there's not much left to the imagination. Set to go on sale later this year, the GLK, caught here during winter testing, keeps design of the concepts.

The differences are in the details. The tester displays a less ornate grille and foglight setup, and the roof rack is also less complex.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz GLK Production Version Spy Shots

Spy Shots: Toyota Urban Cruiser

Toyota is currently testing the Urban Cruiser, the small car that will be revealed in Geneva soon. Smaller than the RAV-4, the Urban Cruiser is more a Jeep Compass rival than a Cherokee competitor, sitting lower than RAV and smaller as well. These are the first live pictures of the Urban Cruiser yet .

The spotted mule is a diesel version; the photographer saw it was filling up with diesel. Urban Cruiser will aim to attract the younger buyers with its technologies, such as the navigation screen which can be viewed via a curved transparent panel, which is integrated with the centre console.

Gallery: Toyota Urban Cruiser Spy Shots

Spy Shots: Jaguar XF-R

The sporty XF-R spotted during testing by the spy photographers. Jaguar's current XF line-up includes 2.7L V6 diesel, 3.0L V6 petrol, 4.2L V8 petrol and a 4.2L supercharged V8 petrol. The majority of these models have received much praise from the motoring press with Jaguar’s XF bettering many of its German rivals in test comparisons. Not bad for a manufacturer on the sale.

It's still unknown what will power the premium XF although it can probably be narrowed down to two options. A rework of the current 4.2L supercharged engine is not out of the equation, in its current guise it is good for 416bhp and a prodigious 560Nm of torque. However the Germans are regularly pumping 500+hp now out of the super saloons. It must also be noted that the SV8 XF is equipped with this very engine so customers will be expecting something special for the R model. The basic architecture of the 4.2L V8 is traceable all the way back to the 4.0L unit first introduced in 1997 so it is getting on a bit now. It is therefore debatable whether Jaguar engineers can wring any more horsepower out of this ageing powerplant.

This leads to the second and more probable option. Jaguar and Land Rover have jointly been working on a replacement for their V8 engines for some time now. Rumor has it that a number of Land Rover models have been spotted with upgraded engines recently. This engine is likely to be a Direct Injection petrol V8 of 5.0 litres in capacity. As Land Rover use reworked versions of the Jaguar V8 in its models, it would be fair to assume that both manufacturers will be receiving this new DI 5.0. This unit should be good for 500hp in supercharged form.

The XF-R model is expected to debut at the London Motor Show this summer followed by a station wagon/estate and a possible convertible.

Gallery: Jaguar XF-R Spy Shots